www.washingtontimes.com Topics: Vladimir Putinhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/vladimir-putin/?utm_medium=RSS2015-03-19T16:52:48-04:00FRANK GAFFNEY: Cold War 2.02015-03-19T16:52:48-04:00Frank J. Gaffney Jr.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/19/frank-gaffney-cold-war-20/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>The new Cold War with Russia has just gotten considerably colder, literally.</p> <p>Vladimir Putin has recently surged forces into the Arctic and heightened the alert level of others already in the area.</p> <p>Reportedly, this operation involves large numbers of troops, warships and aircraft. Mr. Putin's gambit clearly seems designed not ...EDITORIAL: Where did Vladimir Putin go?2015-03-17T18:45:06-04:00THE WASHINGTON TIMEShttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/17/editorial-where-did-vladimir-putin-go/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>When Russian President Vladimir Putin vanished from sight in early March all the explanation were colorful rumors. The maximum leader was a victim of a coup, he was attending the birth of his "love child" (the warmer, fuzzier Vlad), he was having cosmetic surgery (bullies on steeds need Botox, too). ...KIM HOLMES: Russia's, Obama's endgame in Iran nuclear talks2015-03-16T17:14:04-04:00Kim R. Holmeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/16/kim-holmes-russias-obamas-endgame-in-iran-nuclear-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p><strong>ANALYSIS/OPINION:</strong></p> <p>The Obama administration assumes that it needs Russia to get an Iranian nuclear deal. But behind-the-scenes happenings suggest that Russia has its own plans. That may explain why the administration is willing to bypass Congress to get a pact with Tehran.</p> <p>Russia and Iran have been moving closer in ...Vladimir Putin reappears after 10-day absence, looks healthy2015-03-16T11:21:55-04:00Irina Titovahttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/16/vladimir-putin-reappears-after-10-day-absence-look/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) &mdash; Russian President Vladimir Putin resurfaced Monday, smiling and looking his normal self after a 10-day absence from public view that fueled a wave of rumors about his health.</p> <p>Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, who met with Putin in St. Petersburg's ornate Konstantin Palace on Monday, referred ...Putin: Russia prepared raising nuclear readiness over Crimea2015-03-15T12:27:14-04:00JIM HEINTZhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/15/putin-russia-prepared-raising-nuclear-readiness-ov/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) - Russia was ready to bring its nuclear weapons into a state of alert during last year's tensions over the Crimean Peninsula and the overthrow of Ukraine's president, President Vladimir Putin said in remarks aired on Sunday.</p> <p>Putin also expanded on a previous admission that the well-armed forces ...HERBERT LONDON, RADEK LAKOMY: Vladimir Putin fills Obama void in Middle East2015-03-15T17:13:05-04:00Herbert London and Radek Lakomyhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/15/herbert-london-radek-lakomy-vladimir-putin-fills-o/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>Russia is in domestic turmoil. The ruble has had a 35 percent drop in value. Population numbers have tumbled from 250 million to 140 million. Life expectancy rates are among the lowest in the world. Alcoholism is rampant. A general state of unease is ubiquitous.</p> <p>Yet Russian President Vladimir Putin ...Vladimir Putin's powerful grip can 'break your hand,' spokesman says to quell health rumors2015-03-12T11:59:55-04:00Douglas Ernst http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/12/vladimir-putins-powerful-grip-can-break-your-hand-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>President Vladimir Putin is so healthy that his grip can crush bones, a Russian spokesman said Thursday to quell rumors that he is not well.</p> <p>Mr. Putin will miss an upcoming Federal Security Service meeting and he recently postponed a trip to Kazakhstan, which prompted rumors to circulate online that ...Vladimir Putin's powerful grip can 'break your hand,' spokesman says to quell health rumors2015-03-12T09:16:27-04:00Laura Millshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/12/vladimir-putins-spokesman-russian-leader-not-poor-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) &mdash; President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has dismissed rumors circulating on the Internet that the Russian leader is in poor health.</p> <p>Dmitry Peskov told Ekho Moskvy radio station Thursday that the president was "absolutely" healthy, adding that the president's handshake was still so strong it could "break your hand." ...Pyongyang-Moscow love: Russia, North Korea step up warming ties2015-03-11T19:06:12-04:00Jonathan Sochhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/11/pyongyang-moscow-love-russia-north-korea-step-warm/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>Linked by a mutual animosity for the United States these days, Russia and North Korea on Wednesday announced plans to accelerate warming bilateral ties with an official "Year of Friendship," Russian officials announced in Moscow.</p> <p>The 2015 Year of Friendship also marks the 70th anniversary of the victory in what ...Rick Perry: I'd undo bad Iran deal 'in a heartbeat'2015-03-10T09:20:12-04:00David Sherfinskihttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/10/rick-perry-id-undo-bad-iran-deal-heartbeat/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry appears to be on the side of Republican senators who signed onto a letter to Iranian leaders warning that any deal over Iran's nuclear program without congressional approval is merely an agreement that could be undone by the next president.</p> <p>"This Congress has no idea ...Russia detains 2 suspects in killing of Boris Nemtsov2015-03-07T08:14:30-05:00Douglas Ernst http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/7/russia-detains-2-suspects-killing-boris-nemtsov/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW &mdash; Two suspects have been detained in the killing a week ago of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, the head of Russia's federal security service said Saturday, an announcement received with both skepticism and reserved satisfaction by some of Nemtsov's comrades.</p> <p>Alexander Bortnikov, in comments shown on state television, said ...Alexei Navalny, Kremlin critic, released after 15 days in custody2015-03-06T06:30:24-05:00Vladimir Isachenkovhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/6/alexei-navalny-kremlin-critic-released-after-15-da/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) &mdash; Leading Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was released Friday after spending 15 days in custody and vowed that he and his supporters will not be intimidated by the slaying of a top Kremlin critic.</p> <p>Navalny, the driving force behind the 2011-2012 mass protests in Moscow, said the ...DONALD LAMBRO: Israel can't take Iran threat for granted2015-03-03T17:30:09-05:00Donald Lambrohttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/3/donald-lambro-israel-cant-take-iran-threat-for-gra/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>There are lethal reasons why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distrusts the two men seeking to forge a nuclear deal with Iran that threatens his country's future survival.</p> <p>President Obama and Secretary of State John F. Kerry have a bad habit of caving into the demands of radical regimes, believing ...Boris Nemtsov case: Russian mourners view body of slain opposition leader2015-03-03T06:50:49-05:00Laura Millshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/3/boris-nemtsov-case-russian-mourners-view-body-slai/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) &mdash; One by one, thousands of mourners and dignitaries filed past the white-lined coffin of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov on Tuesday, many offering flowers as they paid their last respects to one of the most prominent figures of Russia's beleaguered opposition.</p> <p>Nemtsov was shot to death late ...LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Vladimir Putin's Russia an ever-growing threat2015-03-03T17:08:04-05:00THE WASHINGTON TIMEShttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/3/letter-to-the-editor-vladimir-putins-russia-an-eve/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was gunned down near the Kremlin a day before his planned protest march against President Vladimir Putin's government ("Obama condemns 'brutal murder' of Putin critic Boris Nemtsov," Web, Feb. 27). This assassination is a continuation of the crimes that have been committed since President Boris ...FRANK GAFFNEY JR.: Boris Nemtsov's death no accident, comrade2015-03-02T21:48:44-05:00Frank J. Gaffney Jr.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/2/frank-gaffney-jr-boris-nemtsovs-death-no-accident-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>The assassination outside the Kremlin last week of Vladimir Putin's most prominent and effective critic was, as the communists used to say, "no accident, comrade." Boris Nemtsov was reportedly about to disclose proof that the Putin regime was engineering the violence in Ukraine.</p> <p>To be sure, this is not exactly ...Boris Nemtsov case: Video reports conflict in probe of slaying of Putin critic2015-03-02T10:05:44-05:00Laura Millshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/2/boris-nemtsov-case-video-reports-conflict-probe-sl/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) &mdash; The investigation into the killing of Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was gunned down not far from the Kremlin, faced conflicting reports Monday about possible surveillance footage of his slaying.</p> <p>No suspects have been arrested since Nemtsov was shot dead Friday ...Russian investigators: Killing of Putin critic Boris Nemtsov may be provocation2015-02-28T09:46:36-05:00http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/28/russian-investigators-killing-putin-critic-boris-n/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW &mdash; Russia's top investigative body said Saturday it is looking into several possible motives for the killing of prominent opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, including an attempt to destabilize the state, Islamic extremism, the Ukraine conflict and his personal life.</p> <p>A statement from the body, the Investigative Committee, did not ...Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Putin critic, shot dead 2015-02-27T17:32:00-05:00http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/27/boris-nemtsov-vladimir-putin-critic-shot-dead/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>MOSCOW (AP) &mdash; Russia's Interior Ministry says Boris Nemtsov, a leading opposition figure and former deputy prime minister, has been shot and killed near the Kremlin.</p> <p>Nemtsov, a sharp critic of President Vladimir Putin, was killed early Saturday. His death comes just a day before a major opposition rally in ...Boris Nemtsov killing condemned by Obama; Putin critic killed near Kremlin2015-02-27T19:55:59-05:00S.A. Millerhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/feb/27/boris-nemtsov-killing-condemned-obama-putin-critic/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS<p>President Obama on Friday condemned what he called the "brutal murder" of Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was shot dead near the Kremlin.</p> <p>"We call upon the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his murder and ...